Contacts

Student Veterans of America, BTC chapter

The BTC Veterans Club is a chapter of Student Veterans of America (SVA), consists of a board of elected student executives and staff advisors, and convenes weekly for lunchtime meetings open to the general campus community.

The purpose of this club is to foster peer support within the veteran community on campus, give veterans a place to meet one another, and act as a platform for discussing and advocating for veteran’s academic needs. This club is recognized nationally by the SVA as well as internally by the Associated Students of Bellingham Technical College (ASBTC).

Contacts

Contacts

Benefits

To continue receiving benefits, submit your student schedule each quarter to be certified for the next quarter.

If you are requesting benefits for the first time next quarter, refer to Certifying information and submit required documentation to our certifying official.

Make sure you satisfy the requirement of having your previous college and military transcripts evaluated. There is a limit to the number of quarters you can be certified before this occurs.

Veterans Standards of Progress

Veterans Services will not pay educational benefits if any of the following occurs:

The veteran registers for classes that are not specified as necessary for the declared program of study. Depending on circumstances, deficiency or remedial courses may be certified for benefits.

The veteran fails to submit all previous academic and military transcripts for evaluation.

The veteran registers for two or more courses and receives “F” or “W” grades for all courses in one quarter.

The veteran fails to convert an “I” grade to a letter grade within one year from receiving the "I" grade.

The veteran fails to attend class for the quarter for which VA educational benefits are received.

The veteran fails to achieve the minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for three consecutive quarters.

Payment - to BTC and to You

Watch for payment due dates on the College Calendar. Submit your schedule early!

Student Schedule - Submit your student schedule right after you register for classes; before the payment due date is best.

Book Vouchers - Book Vouchers will be available one week before the new quarter start for students who have submitted class schedules in a timely manner.

Tuition and Fees - If you are required to pay a portion of tuition and fees, be sure to pay before the payment due date. Don't get dropped for non-payment!

Reimbursement - If you are receiving benefits under Chapter 33, remember that it takes 7-8 weeks for you to be reimbursed any Financial Aid used to cover tuition and fees.

Information about qualifying pay rates and payment dates for Chapter 30, 35, and 1606 is available only through direct contact with the Department of Veterans Affairs at www.va.gov or by phone at 1-888-442-4551.

Tuition Assistance

BTC will accommodate Tuition Assistance for all branches of the military. Check military deadlines for receiving tuition assistance vouchers and bring your voucher to BTC's School Certifying Official.

Contacts

Transcript Evaluation

The Department of Veterans Affairs requires that any other college transcripts and military training transcript be evaluated for transfer-in credit. This is not an optional step – all transcripts must be evaluated prior to admission.

You will need to complete an Evaluation Request Form and have official copies of your transcripts from previous colleges and your Joint Services Transcript (JST SMART Transcript) delivered to BTC. Once we have all of your transcripts, and the evaluation request form on file the evaluation process typically takes up to 3 weeks.

Veteran students using education benefits are not permitted to opt out of prior credit evaluation.

College Transcripts

All college transcripts must be official copies, in sealed unopened envelopes. It is your responsibility to contact the previous college and request your transcripts. You can hand-deliver, mail in, or have the previous college directly send us these transcripts. Please note there is typically a small fee associated with ordering official transcripts that you will be responsible for.

Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, National Guard & Navy Transcripts

To order your Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps or Navy transcripts you will need to go to https://jst.doded.mil/ (you may receive a certificate error on this website, this site is safe so you can continue). This website will walk you through the steps of ordering your official military transcripts.

Army and National Guard transcripts can only be ordered and delivered online. All other services, there are two types of delivery methods:

Online Delivery - You can order as many transcript as needed for on-line delivery. Transcripts ordered by 11:59 PM central time will be delivered via the web on the next business day after ordered.

U.S. Postal Service Delivery - Only 2 transcripts within 30 days can be ordered due to production and postage costs. Hard copies will be mailed on the next business day after the transcripts are ordered.

Air Force Transcripts

To order your Air Force transcripts you will need to go to http://www.au.af.mil/au/barnes/ccaf/transcripts.asp. CCAF provides several options for ordering your official transcript as detailed on their website. You may also view your unofficial transcript online through this website at any time. All official transcripts are hard copy, as they do not have the ability to send transcripts electronically at this time.

Accuplacer Placement Testing

If you do not have previous college credits, you will need to take the ACCUPLACER placement test. ACCUPLACER is not a pass/fail test. It simply measures your current skill level. Your scores will help you choose the right classes, make a plan, and obtain any needed support services. Starting off with Accuplacer means a more successful college experience.

Contacts

Services

Early Registration for Veteran Students

As a Veteran enrolled in a BTC educational program, you get to register first for next quarter classes! Watch for your registration access time in myBTC portal and register right after your assigned time.

Contacts

Residency for Military, Veteran and Dependent Students

Military service does not change your legal domicile or residency status. If you were classified as non-resident during the admissions process and you are Active Military, or a Veteran within 1-3 years of separation, we would like to review your residency status.

After your request for reclassification or waiver has been reviewed, Registration will email the results to you.

Active Duty Military and Washington National Guard

If you are a Washington State resident stationed elsewhere, you are still considered a Washington State resident and may take classes online at the Resident rate.
If you are Active Military stationed in Washington State, you may be classified as Military Personnel and pay the Resident Rate.
To request your status be changed to Military Personnel, submit to the Registration Office

Documentation of your relation to the military person such as military papers, marriage license, birth certificate

Veteran Students

If you were classified as non-resident during the admissions process and you are a Veteran within 1-3 years of separation, talk with the BTC Certifying Official about requesting your residency status to be reviewed.
Documentation to submit to the BTC Veteran Certifying Official

There are three criteria for a Veteran student to be classified as Military Personnel.

Live in Washington State

Separated from uniformed services with any period of honorable service after at least 90 days of active duty service

Entering BTC (1st day of 1st quarter) within three years of the date of separation

If you are eligible for this classification, your Student Schedule will read:

Residency Status: 2 NON_RESDNT

Fee Paying Status: 09 MILITARY PERSONNEL

Students classified as MILITARY PERSONNEL pay the Resident Rate.

BTC Tuition Waiver – Reduced Non-Resident Waiver Rate

The BTC Tuition Waiver is for US Citizens and permanent residents who have been living in other US States or Territories during the last year. As a Veteran, you can qualify for this waiver.

If you are eligible for this classification, your Student Schedule will read:

Residency Status: 2 NON_RESDNT

Fee Paying Status: 29 NONRES OPER FEE WVR

Students eligible for BTC’s Tuition Waiver pay the BTC Tuition Waiver Rate which is higher than the resident rate, but significantly lower than the non-resident rate. See Tuition Rates.

Veteran Dependents

As a Veteran Dependent, you will submit your Certificate of Eligibility, or you will submit the documentation required of the service veteran plus proof of your relation to the veteran, such as military documentation, marriage license, birth certificate.

A veteran dependent student may be eligible for these classifications or waivers.

Washington Resident

Veteran Dependent Classified as Military Personnel – Resident Rate

BTC Tuition Waiver – Reduced Non-Resident Waiver Rate

WAIVER for Children/Spouse of Totally Disabled or POW/MIA or Deceased Eligible Veterans or National Guard Members

Students eligible for this waiver pay zero tuition and class fees. Tuition will be $0.00 (zero) immediately. Fees will be “paid by waiver” overnight. If you have tuition or fees showing as due on your student account more than 1 business day after registering for classes, email registration@btc.edu.

Residency Questions?

The VA School Certifying Official at BTC is able to assist Veteran students and Children/Spouse of disabled, POW/MIA or Deceased Veterans with residency questions and paperwork.

See
Resources to identify the Residency contact in Registration if you have additional residency questions.